Philz Coupa Cafe Coffeebar

Philz Coffee, located at 2116 Broadway, Redwood City, is about a 10-15 minute walk from Sequoia. The coffee sizes offered are 12 ounces (a small), 16 ounces ( a medium) and a 20 ounce ( a large). Their coffee prices range from four to seven dollars per cup of coffee, a bit on the pricey side but very much worth it.

The Philz staff is made up of many ages. Some very young and some with a lifetime of working experience. This plays into the factor of their exceptional customer service and their very tasty coffee. They have several seating options from sitting inside to outside, sitting at a table big or small or on comfy couches. They also have many outlets for charging in case you need a charge. To me, Philz is a place where I am always going to get work done no matter what mood I’m in.

“We always want to make people comfortable whether they are working here or they’re just visiting. A lot of people like to make this their work space and we want to make sure they are comfortable. We want to make it a place where people can come in, meet with friends, get work done and not feel any type of way…”

Jesus “Zeus” Mendoza, a Barista at Philz Coffee

The staff always makes an effort to make you feel comfortable as well as making sure you get your work done the second you walk through their door. It’s not everyday you find a coffee shop that actually cares about their customers.

“...You can come in here and get something that you need, something that you want and just chill out and relax especially if that’s not something you can do at home…” Isa Pina, employee at Philz Coffee, said.

Another reason why Philz Coffee is a great place to attend for school work is because of the unity shown in the employees and how much they love to attend work everyday. It’s common for people to not enjoy their job and really fight the urge to attend work everyday, but at Philz, there is no such thing.

“I don’t feel like I’m coming to work everyday, it’s more like my family,” Sam Shaar, barista at Philz Coffee said.

Coffeebar at 2020 Broadway, located where Young’s Ice Cream was before closing down, continues the legacy of a space that serves the people. Featuring pride rainbows and fairly loud groovy music with bass, it has a fluid, free, and lively atmosphere. The employees are thoughtful, putting emphasis on respecting the history of the physical space, and being informed about the coffee they are serving. Different coffee blends come from Columbia, Guatemala, Ethiopia, and Costa Rica, among other places. Currently they are serving “Home for the Holidays,’’ a delicious seasonal signature drink similar to a pumpkin spice latte. Coffeebar is a small chain that is mainly in Tahoe, although its expansion hasn’t compromised its quality.

“The experience is from when you enter the cafe, to then enjoying your drink, your interactions with the staff in the cafe, all the way up until you go on with the rest of your day,” said coffee lead Claire Karoly. “[I want for it to be] a really bright point in your day.”

Coffeebar is the ideal study location for someone wanting a happy and lively place, perhaps in need of a pick me up, especially if they don’t mind some possible business.

Also not to mention their coffee and pastries are pretty fantastic. I would recommend the Iced Mint Mojito.

The first observation many customers make about Coupa Cafe, at 695 Main Street, is the friendliness of the staff. Employees Jesus Ay Ciau and Ethel Rodriguez are often behind the counter, and always connect to customers with a smile. Coupa Cafe is a small chain owned by a Venezuelan family, including Venezuelan food on their menu, and offers more variety compared to other cafes in the area. Their distinctiveness can be tasted in the spices of their specialty drinks, especially the mocha. The pabellon plate and avocado toast are very enjoyable, the latter highlighting the intersection of a stereotypically Californian palate.

This cafe isn’t as busy as Philz or Coffeebar, and has a particularly intimate and quiet atmosphere. It is physically slightly removed from other restaurants in Redwood City, which is what not being crowded is likely attributed to, although is still easily accessible for a Sequoia student.

“We try to make it friendly for everybody. Everybody’s welcome one big smile all the time,” Ay Ciau said.

I am now on a first name basis with Ay Ciau, fulfilling a childhood dream of being known as ‘a regular’ at a cafe, and attesting to the thoughtfulness of the employees. He also described that the employees have many origins, such as Mexico, Guatemala, and Venezuela. Coupa Cafe is ideal for those looking for a calming and welcoming environment, or wanting some delicious variety in cuisine options.